Ferguson ready for successful return

It's been four years since Bob Ferguson has coached a hockey game in Estero, Fla.

"Nothing's changed," he said Thursday from southwest Florida. "Traffic everywhere, and the weather is warm."

As the first coach in Florida Everblades history, Ferguson helped build a franchise that has reached the Kelly Cup playoffs in each of its seven seasons - and lost in the finals the past two seasons under his replacement, Gerry Fleming.

"I enjoyed my time there," said Ferguson, who will coach against his former team in games tonight and Saturday. "But I'm looking at the front windshield and am more worried with the Augusta Lynx and where we're headed."

Ferguson took over as head coach of the Lynx in May, four years after resigning from the Everblades for a variety of reasons.

While in Florida, Ferguson won ECHL Coach of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons.

Now, he's trying to end Augusta's four-year playoff drought.

He's off to a good start. The Lynx enter tonight's game tied with Charlotte and South Carolina for second place in the South Division.

They've lost just one game in regulation despite losing both goaltenders from their opening day roster. Jason Wolfe is still recovering from a groin injury he suffered less than 21 minutes into the season opener, and he did not make this weekend's trip.

Seamus Kotyk was recalled last week to the American Hockey League's Houston Aeros, where he has gone 1-2 with a 5.04 goals-against average. With the Lynx, Kotyk went 2-1 with a 1.49 goals-against average.

In their place, a pair of rookies making their professional debuts helped the Lynx earn three out of a possible four points last weekend.

Cam Ellsworth suffered an overtime loss to Gwinnett on Friday, while Trevor Cunning beat Pensacola - the team that released him only days before - 3-2 on Saturday.

Ferguson said Thursday that Cunning will probably get the start tonight. Ferguson was impressed by the way Cunning was able to preserve Augusta's one-goal lead in the game's final minutes, even with the Lynx short-handed for the final 2 minutes, 25 seconds.

Cunning said that forward Joe Pereira's power-play goal at the 13:59 mark of the third period gave him a confidence boost, which he hopes lasts.

"I'm still battling for a spot here obviously, so I'm just looking to impress people and impress the coach and make his decision a little more difficult if someone comes back down," Cunning said after practice Wednesday.

"I think I'm going into this weekend with a little more confidence, maybe not as nervous, but still with a little bit of butterflies. We'll see how it goes."

The Everblades enter tonight having played just two games this season after Hurricane Wilma forced them to postpone their season-opening games against Las Vegas to last weekend. The teams split two games.

Ferguson likes the early-season matchup against the perennially playoff-bound Everblades.

"Playing these guys will be a good indicator for us," he said, "where we're at, what are strengths are, what we need to improve on."

Reach Kristy Shonka at (706) 823-3216 or kristy.shonka@augustachronicle.com.